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Canucks face killer cap crunch in reset mode

Who’s staying? Who’s leaving? A player-by-player breakdown

Don't call it a rebuild … rather, a 'reset' for the Vancouver Canucks, according to general manager Mike Gillis. Click through the photos here on each player's contract status and whether he figures to be back for the 2013-14 NHL season.

Photograph by: Maggie Wong
, Vancouver Sun graphics

VANCOUVER — It’s not a rebuild or a reload for the Vancouver Canucks, it's a reset.

Whatever the term — and reset is kind of a catchy one, don't you think? — general manager Mike Gillis has some work to do in massaging the Canucks’ lineup. And it's going to be all about money.

The Canucks have been a spend-to-the-cap team under Gillis, but that cap is coming down significantly in the 2013-14 season due to the lockout that squandered millions in NHL revenues. Gillis will have to shed at least $6 million in salary to stay within the new $64.3-million limit.

The Canucks currently have 16 players under contract for 2013-14 at a total cost of $63,502,777. This includes out-going netminder Roberto Luongo (we think, finally) and out-of-favour defenceman Keith Ballard, which would remove more than $9.5 million of cap space.

The 16 players are broken down into two goalies, six defencemen and eight forwards, certainly not enough to ice a team. At the very least, the Canucks needs to carry seven defenceman and 13 forwards. Management will have to find cap space to fill out those positions as well as accounting for a backup goalie.

Gillis and right-hand man Laurence Gilman have two compliance buyouts with which to work in reducing payroll. It is expected Ballard will be one unless Gillis can pull off a miraculous trade with a team wanting a $4.2-million bench-warmer.

Left-winger David Booth may be another candidate for buyout as he hasn't come close to a return on his $4.25-million salary, mostly because he has missed so many games through long-term injury (knee, groin, ankle) since joining the team. Can the Canucks afford to gamble he'll remain upright and become a 30-goal scorer again? Or do they inject a younger and cheaper player, like Nicklas Jensen, into his spot and live with the growing pains?

“We are going to have to reinvent ourselves and do things differently in order to be successful,” Gillis noted during his end-of-season address. “We need to improve and we need to get different and we're going to do that. It is my intention to make sure we have a team that is better equipped.”

Prediction: Will be bought out, or traded. Far too much dough for a third pairing/healthy scratch. Square peg in round hole.

Frank Corrado

Cap Hit: $599,444.

Years remaining on contract: Two.

Prediction: Will definitely be back. The next Chris Tanev?

Andrew Alberts

Years remaining on contract: None. Unrestricted free agent.

Prediction: Fifty-fifty he'll be re-signed. Frequent healthy scratch early in season but in lineup every night at end.

Chris Tanev

Years remaining on contract: None. Restricted free agent.

Prediction: Will definitely be back. Safe and reliable. Excellent first pass.

Cam Barker

Years remaining on contract: None. Unrestricted free agent.

Prediction: Won't be back. Didn't show much in limited appearances.

• FORWARDS:

Henrik Sedin

Cap Hit: $6.1 million.

Years remaining on contract: One.

Prediction: Will definitely be back. Still can dish puck with best of them.

Daniel Sedin

Cap Hit: $6.1 million.

Years remaining on contract: One.

Prediction: Will definitely be back. Hank needs someone to receive his passes.

Ryan Kesler

Cap Hit: $5 million.

Years remaining on contract: Three.

Prediction: Will definitely be back. A true impact player if capable of remaining healthy, always a big 'if’ with Kesler.

Alex Burrows

Cap Hit: $4.5 million.

Years remaining on contract: Four.

Prediction: Will definitely be back. Power play, penalty kill, left wing, right wing, centre, net presence. Does everything asked.

David Booth

Cap Hit: $4.25 million.

Years remaining on contract: Two.

Prediction: Probably won't be back. Injury-prone winger candidate for buyout although team is in desperate need of power forwards just like him. If he was making $2.4 million instead of $4.2 million, he'd be a keeper.

Chris Higgins

Cap Hit: $2.5 million.

Years remaining on contract: Four.

Prediction: Will be back. Canucks just re-signed him and like his versatility despite zero production last two playoff series.

Jannik Hansen

Cap Hit: $1.35 million.

Years remaining on contract: One.

Prediction: Will definitely be back. His speed up front a huge asset.

Zack Kassian

Cap Hit: $870,000.

Years remaining on contract: One.

Prediction: Will be back. Still a project but team needs his size, youth and potential. Should spend summer working on quickness.

Derek Roy

Years remaining on contract: None. Unrestricted free agent.

Prediction: Definitely won't be back. Didn't impress as rental and too expensive. Even Gillis admitted he didn't work out.

Mason Raymond

Years remaining on contract: None. Unrestricted free agent.

Prediction: Won't be back. Not productive enough for top-six forward. Time for a fresh start elsewhere. Gillis didn't even bother with a vote of confidence for Raymond, saying “I'm not sure” when asked about his possible return.

Don't call it a rebuild … rather, a 'reset' for the Vancouver Canucks, according to general manager Mike Gillis. Click through the photos here on each player's contract status and whether he figures to be back for the 2013-14 NHL season.

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